EFFECT OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE ON BODY COMPOSITION PARAMETERS AND EXERCISE CAPACITY BY COMPARISON WITH AGE MATCHED HEALTHY CONTROLS

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Nutritional abnormalities are frequent systemic manifestation associated with COPD. The purpose of the present study was to compare the body composition parameters & exercise capacity between stable COPD patients and healthy controls, and to find the strength of association between exercise capacity, FMI and FFMI.

Methods: 100 subjects were recruited, and divided into two groups. Group I included stable COPD patients, and Group II consisted of age matched healthy controls respectively. The spirometric parameters recorded were FEV1 (Litres), FVC (Litres), FEV1/FVC ratio (% predicted), FEF 25%75% (Litres/sec). Anthrometric measurements included Body Weight, Height and BMI measurements. Body composition was assessed by four-frequency bioelec- trical impedance analysis (BODY STAT, QUAD SCAN, USA). The following parameters were calculated: FFM, FFMI, FM and FMI. The exercise capacity was assessed by the six-minute walking distance test (6MWD). All the recordings were compared between groups and correlation was also computed between 6MWD, FMI & FFMI with- in groups. Results were analyzed using SPSS, version 16 & Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results: We found that COPD patients showed lower FFM, FFMI & exercise capacity as compared to healthy con- trols. And, great strength of association was found between FFMI and exercise capacity.

Conclusions: Thus, our study indicates that with COPD there is preferential loss of lean body mass evident from lower FFMI leading to decreased walking distance in these patients. Hence, it is prudent to include nutritional and exercise capacity assessment in patients of COPD, to better manage these patients and improve their quality of life.